Can opener



R. H. TAVES CAN OPENER Feb. 6, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 6, 1960 I" a J [P IP26 33' INV TOR.

Feb. 6, 1962 R. H. TAVES 3,019,524

CAN OPENER Filed 001;. 6, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Mr/k/fh/es. B

3,019,524 Patented Feb. 6, 1962 Fice 3,019,524 CAN @PENER Richard H. Taves, ltidlil W. Nevada Ave, Melrose Park, Ill. Filed Oct. 6, I969, Ser. No. 61,018 2 Elaims. (Cl. 3ll-6.1)

This invention relates generally to can openers, and more particularly is directed to can opening implements of the type which operates to puncture a vent opening and a pouring opening in the top end wall of a beer can that has been sealed with the customary projecting end seam or rim.

In recent years effervescent beverages have been increasingly marketed in generally cylindrical metal cans that have been specially constructed to withstand the internal pressure created by gas contained, for example, in beer or carbonated soft drinks. In order to remove the beverage it has been the general practice to punch, or otherwise form, two openings in the top of the can, preferably at diametrically opposed locations adjacent the rim of the top end wall of the can, so that the liquid can pour from one of the openings, while air enters the can through the other opening to fill the space vacated b the discharged liquid. The most common used tool or implement for forming openings in the top of the can consists of an elongated lever or handle member having a struck-out tab adjacent the cutter adapted to engage under the projecting rim of the can and thereby proving a fulcrum about which the lever or handle member may be rocked so that the cutter penetrates the can top and forms a triangular discharge opening in the latter, the opening having long sides of the isosceles triangle and the base thereof being formed by the downwardly folded triangular segment of the can top which is disposed at a very short distance from the periphery of the rim but pressed downwardly and in juxtaposition with the side Wall of the can, thereby forming a trap for a portion of the contents and causing a slow, turbulent fiow of the liquid thereover the triangular segment. The tool also has a pointed pin extending therefrom to form the desired vent hole in the top after the discharge opening is formed.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a can opening implement adapted to form two openings in the top of a can in a single operation with the small vent opening being formed first adjacent the rim of the top end wall of the can and thereafter forming the larger triangular shaped discharge opening with the apex of the opening adjacent the rim of the top end wall of the can at a diametrically opposed location, the base of the opening being formed by the downwardly folded triangular segment of the can top disposed downwardly and rolled away from the side wall of the can juxtaposed said apex of the opening, leaving the triangular shaped opening clear of surface projections and providing a triangular notch weir type opening of certain advantages well known in the field of hydraulics because the vertex, or apex, of the opening is adjacent the lower side of the can over which the liquid is flowing while being poured therefrom, the liquid flowing smoothly over the vertex and not over the straight base portion of the openmg.

Another object is to provide a pouring aperture of triangular shape with its vertex positioned immediately adjacent the rim so that all of the contents of the can may be easily drained, the triangular segment of the can top disposed downwardly and inwardly towards the longitudinal axis of the can and rolled to form a venturi type throat below the aperture.

Another object is to provide a pouring aperture in the top of a beer can, the aperture sloped and so dimensioned to provide a high velocity stream when decanting from the can over the vertex of the aperture and adjacent the rim of the can to a drinking vessel, with the result that the beer so decanted through such an aperture forms a very desirable high collar or head in the drinking vessel.

It is well known that the agitation of a container of any efiervescent beverage causes an ebullition of the contents, on opening, if atmospheric pressure is not able quickly and evenly to be brought to bear on the surface of the liquid beverage. Therefore, an object is to provide a can opening implement having the above characteristics and that causes no agitation of the can and provides, in quick succession, two openings diametrically opposed near the periphery of the top of the can, first forming a small triangular shaped vent aperture to equalize the pressure, then secondly forming a larger triangular shaped discharge aperture with its vertex adjacent the rim of the can, thereby equalizing the atmosphericpressure on the surface of the beverage and thus preventing the premature escape of a portion of the liquid contents through the discharge aperture.

In accordance with this invention a beer can opening implement is provided that includes an elongated tool of simple form that is free of moving parts and having a hookshaped projection adjacent one end to engage under the rim at the top of a beer can and thereby act as a fulcrum, and a handle portion adjacent its other end so that the tool can be rocked about the fulcrum from an initial inclined position to a substantially horizontal position across the top of the can. A pointed lug extends from the tool at aloeation spaced from the hook-shaped projection to puncture the top of the can as the tool is rocked towards its horizontal position, thereby forming a vent hole in the top of the can. A curved and pointed lug extends from the tool at a location spaced from the first lug to puncture the top of the can adjacent the rim at the opposite side of the can, the second lug being much larger than the first lug and extends through the can top and thereby forming a pouring or discharge aperture of triangular shape with its vertex immediately adjacent the rim of the can. handle causes the aperture to be formed and the triangular segment of the can top tube forced downwardly into the interior of the can wall of the can.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent in the following dement embodying the present invention as viewed in per' spective;

FIGURE 2 is a plan of the same tool showing what i may be termed its, underside, top of the can;

FIGURE 3 is a side FIG. 2;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the tool shown by FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 arranged for application to a container for the perforating act;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 66 of FIG. 4;

FIGURE 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 77 of FIG. 4;

FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal side elevational view of the tool shown by FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a can being indicated or that side applied to the elevation of the tool shown by The vertical or downward thrust of the tool and rolled 'upwardly with a transverse axis, forming a venturi throat against the side 9 the accompanying draw- 3 in dotted lines, the tool being shown in full lines in its initial position for forming the air vent in a can top;

FIGURE 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the tool shown by FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, and showing its application to a fragmentary upper portion of a beer can, the tool being shown in its final position;

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of a beer can showing the air vent and liquid discharge aperture formed therein, the tool being shown by dotted lines in its final position after said apertures are made;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the tool shown by FIGS. l4, showing the curvature of the struck-out tab adapted to engage the rim of a can; and

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the tool shown by FIGS. 1-4, showing the curvature of the large lug, integrally secured therewith, for piercing the top of the can and forming the triangular shaped discharge aperture.

The reference numeral 15 has been applied generally to the tool constituting the present invention and comprises an elongated rigid strip or body of metal such as soft steel, for example, having an elongated substantially straight and flat intermediate portion 16, a hook portion 17 at one end, a handle portion 18 at the opposite end thereof, a pair of piercing members, designated 26} and e 21, and a struck-out hook member 22. The hook portion 17 constitutes a relatively flat short terminal portion which is disposed upwardly and connects an inner end thereof to the adjacent end of the intermediate portion 16. The handle portion 18 constitutes a relatively flat short portion with an aperture 23 near its outer end to receive a wall securing means, such as a nail or screw. The terminal end portion 25 of handle portion 18 is.disposed downwardly at a slight angle and has a downwardly struck tongue 26 with hook element 29 adjacent its free end and normal thereto cooperating with the terminal end portion 25 in removing bottle caps of the crown type. The width of the intermediate portion forming a splash guard of sufiicient width to cover the vent opening in any can.

In the hook portion 17 and medially between the opposite sides thereof thereis formed a U-shaped slit 32, and the material surrounded by said slit is struck downwardly to provide said hook member 22 having a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface of fixed radius and adapted to engage under the can top rim of a can.

Medially between the opposite sides of said handle portion 16 at the junction with said hook portion 17, a V-shaped slit 33 is horizontally formed therein, and the material surrounded by said slit is struck downwardly and normal tot-he plane of said hook portion 17, leaving the vertex of the V-shaped slit extending away from said hook portion 17, and forming said air vent piercing member of triangular shape, as clearly shown by FIGS. 1, 4 and 5.

The piercing member is substantially L-shape in longitudinal cross-section, having a base portion 40 and a leg portion extending upwardly therefrom. The leg portion, or element 24, of said piercing member 21 is substantially triangular shape and joins the off-set substantially flat, rectangular shaped base portion 40 which is integrally secured medially between the opposite sides of said intermediate portion 16 of the tool, said piercing member leg portion 24 having two cutting edges, or sides 42 and 43, which converge away from the air vent piercmg member 20 and toward the handle portion 18 to form a point 44, as best seen in FIGURES 1-4. The piercing leg portion 24 has a transversely flat, concave inner face 45 and a transversely fiat convex outer face 46-, said edges or sides 42 and 43 forming the sides of the isosceles triangle and said point 44 the apex thereof opposite its wide bottom 48 at the junction thereof with the off-set rectangular shaped base portion 49. The terminal edgeof hook member 22, the apex of air vent piercing member 20, and point 44 of piercing member 24 all terminating in a common plane parallel to and below the plane of the hook portion 17 and below the plane of the handle portion 18 and inclined downwardly relative to the plane of said handle portion 18; clearly shown by FIGURES 3, 4, and 8.

The intermediate portion 16 and the adjoining portion of the handle portion 18 of the tool 15 are formed with marginally extending reinforcing ribs 50 and 51, as clearly shown by FIGURES 1, 2 and 12, said ribs extending downwardly from the flat bottom surface of said portions and leaving straight grooves in the upper surfaces thereof between the rectangular base portion 40 of said piercing member 21 and the longitudinal edges of the intermediate portion 16 of the tool 15.

Due to the arrangement of the different elements of tool 15, as the tool is rocked from the position as shown by FIG. 8 to the position as shown by FIG. 9, the intermediate portion 16 is disposed counter to lines of force tending to bend the same; this being particularly true as the piercing members 20 and 21 begin to enter the can top. At this time, at the location of the junction of the intermediate portion 16 and the handle portion 18, a considerable strain is set up which would ordinarily tend to bend the tool at this point. However, the connecting portion of said intermediate portion and said handle portion, being reinforced by said ribs 59 and 51, effectively resists this bending movement. At the same time, the intermediate portion is reinforced by the rectangular base portion 40 of the L-shaped piercing member 21 and which provides a two layer, integral section between said ribs 50 and 51, as shown by FIGURES 1 and 12.

In utilizing the can opener, or tool 15, the handle portion 18 may be grasped in either hand while the other hand is utilized to hold the can to be opened immovably. The book 22 is positioned against the outside of the rim 55 of the can 56, as seen in FIG. 8, and the point of the piercing member 26 is disposed to rest upon a part of the can top 57 adjacent the rim 55 engaged by the book 22, and then pierces the can top as the operator exerts a downward pressure on the handle 13in a direction toward the top of the can and causing the vent hole 58 to be formed in the can top 57, the hole is enlarged by the tapering piercing member 20, and the segment of material cut from the can top 57 is curled beneath the top of the can and toward the bead of the can, as shown by FIG. 9. The piercing members 20 and 21 are spaced a proper distance apart so that as the tool 15 approaches a position parallel to the can top 57, the point 44 of leg portion 24 of member 21 will contact the can top 57 adjacent another part of the rim portion 55 which is located substantially opposite to the rim portion 55, adjacent which the piercing prong 20 is disposed. Said piercing member 20 anchoring said tool against lateral movement on top of the can and further downward pressure on the handle 18 will cause the piercing point 44 to pierce the can top 57 and as the handle 18 continues to move downwardly, the cutting edges 42 and 43 will cut a V- shape slice in the can top 57 in diverging directions away from the initial cut made by the point 44 and away from the rim portion 55, adjacent which the' piercing member 21 contacted. As the piercing leg portion 24 of member 21 continues to move downwardly through the can top 57, the cuts made by the edges 42 and 44 will continue. As the cuts made by the edges 42 and 43 are elongated, the portion 60 of the can top 57 which is disposed therebetween and between the edges 42 and 43 will contact the concave inner face 45 of the leg portion 24 of member 21 and will be forced downwardly and inwardly away from the adjacent portion of the can Wall 57, forming a horizontal curled, or semi-cylindrical portion with an axis extending parallel to the plane of the tool 15 andtransversely thereto. When the handle 18 of the tool 15 has come to rest on the rim 55, adjacent the piercing member 21, the vent opening and discharge openings will have been completed. After removal of the tool 15 the vent opening will be a relatively small V-shaped opening and the discharge opening will be a relatively large V-shaped opening; both openings may be said to be triangular with the vertex of each extending in the same direction and the transverse base portions of each opening forming the base of an isosceles triangle, and parallel with each other. The vertex 65 of the discharge opening 66 will be disposed adjacent a part of the rim 55 and the discharge opening 66 will increase in width in a direction away from said adjacent n'm 55. Accordingly, by tilting the can in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIGURE 9, assuming that the can contains beer, not shown, the contents of the can may be poured readily and smoothly through a weir shaped pouring opening 66 and while the can is vented through the triangular shaped vent opening 58, the contents leave the can without gushing, as occurs with openings of other configurations. The rolled base portion of the segment cut from the can top 57 being transversely hat and semi-cylindrical and cooperating with the smooth adjacent longitudinal can wall produces a venturi throat portion adjacent and beneath the discharge opening 66, providing quicker and smoother pouring of the contents of the can 56.

It is obviously seen that the intermediate portion 16 of the tool 15 is greatly strengthened by having the leg portion of the L-shaped piercing member 211 integrally secured medially between the opposite sides thereof and cooperating with the longitudinal strengthening ribs 50 and 53 formed therein between said opposite sides and said base portion 4h, forming a solid unitary tool with reinforced intermediate portion 16, efi'ectively resisting any bending moment or strain on the tool.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that i do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of this invention.

What i claim is:

1. A piercing tool for forming dispensing and air vent openings in a can top having a double seam about the top periphery thereof, comprising: a body formed from a single sheet of metal material and including a flat body portion serving as a handle, a hook portion at one end of the body portion lying in an upwardly inclined angle relative to the body portion, said hook portion having near its terminus a hook member of a fixed radius with an outer lateral edge struck therefrom and extending radially downwardly and inwardly towards the intermediate portion adjacent thereto, said hook member adapted to anchor beneath the double seam of a can top to be punctured, said flat body portion adapted to extend over the can top and having a relatively small triangular shaped vent piercing member struck therefrom at the juncture thereof with the inner end of said hook portion, said vent piercing member extending downwardly at an obtuse angle relative to said handle portion and normal relative to said hook portion, said vent piercing member adapted to pierce the top and prevent lateral movement of the tool and accidental removal of the said hook member from the can top seam, the opposite end of said handle portion having a relatively large discharge piercing member with a pointed free end integrally secured thereto and extending downwardly from the same side of said body portion as said hook member, said discharge piercing member being so located on the body portion so as to penetrate the can top near the periphery thereof and is so shaped that it bears against and rolls the metal away from the periphery of the can top and towards the center of the can forming a venturi between it and the vertical wall of the can adjacent the discharge opening, whereby liquid may be poured from the can without interference by the indented metal material, the lateral edge of said hook member, the apex of said vent piercing memher, and the pointed end of said discharge member terminating in a common plane parallel to and below the plane of the hook portion and below the plane of the handle portion and inclined downwardly relative to the plane of said handle portion effecting piercing of the can top with relatively little strain on the handle portion during its use by the operator.

2. The piercing tool according to claim 1, said discharge piercing element having a concave inner face and a convex outer face, said faces being curved downwardly from the base portion of said element and formed straight in a transverse direction, whereby any segment cut from a can thereby is formed into a semi-cylindrical extension transversely thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

